The Dutch airline KLM has submitted a new wage offer to employee representatives. The proposal includes a one-time payment of €1.000 for 2025 and a structural salary increase of up to 2,5 percent starting in July 2026. The amount of the percentage increase is tied to the company's financial performance. This offer forms the basis for further negotiations between the airline and the participating unions, which are scheduled to resume on July 10, 2025.
The proposed offer calls for a new Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) with a term of 22 months, which would cover all employee groups at KLM. Key elements of the proposal are the aforementioned one-off payment of €1.000, to be paid to all employees in 2025. The structural salary increase, effective July 1, 2026, is tied to KLM's operating profit margin in 2025. If KLM achieves an operating profit margin (COI margin) of 5,5 percent or more, the full 2,5 percent increase would take effect. If the margin is lower, a minimum increase of 0,5 percent is provided.
This approach of linking a salary increase to the company's financial performance is not uncommon in the aviation industry and is intended to take into account both the interests of employees and the company's financial stability. For KLM, this proposal represents a solid basis for an agreement that reflects the current challenges of the market environment and the company's long-term planning. After the turbulent years of the pandemic and the subsequent recovery, airlines strive for stable labor relations that enable a predictable personnel and cost structure.
The upcoming negotiations on July 10 will determine whether the unions consider the proposal acceptable or whether they will demand further adjustments. Collective bargaining in aviation is often complex, as it requires reconciling different professional groups with specific needs and interests. However, a successful agreement is important for the operational stability of KLM, a major player in European and international air traffic, operating an extensive route network from its hub in Amsterdam.